What's the Difference? (BSc, BMSc, BHSc)

Many Honours graduates enter graduate school or professional programs such as Medicine, Dentistry, Education, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Law and Business. It is important to remember that there is no preferred route to any of these schools. To be eligible for these programs you must have the necessary prerequisite courses. Enrolment in graduate and professional programs is limited and admission is very competitive.

Biology (BSc) Medical Sciences (BMSc) Health Sciences (BHSc)

Modules offered by the Department of Biology allow for the study of organisms at different levels of the biological organization - from how organisms interact with each other and the environment at the level of the ecosystem through to the study of individual genes in fruit flies in the laboratory.

The BMSc program looks at the molecular, cellular and systematic organization of the human body and the biological mechanisms it uses to adapt to environmental changes and disease.

The BHSc program focuses on the interdisciplinary study of health and wellness in an ever-changing society, in addition to domestic and international health systems.

Areas of Study (Modules):

  • Biology
  • Ecosystem Health
  • Animal Behaviour
  • Biology and Geology
  • Genetics
  • Genetics and Biochemistry

Areas of Study (Modules):

  • Biochemistry
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences
  • Medical Biophysics
  • Medical Cell Biology
  • Medical Health Informatics
  • Microbiology and Immunology
  • One Health
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology

Areas of Study (Modules):

  • Community Rural Health Development
  • Health Sciences
  • Health Promotion
  • Health Sciences with Biology
  • Rehabilitation Sciences

Career Opportunities

Many graduates with Honors degrees in Biology go on to pursue graduate degrees (MSc/PhD) and professional programs. In addition to furthering their education, graduates also pursue careers in:

  • Government (agriculture, environment, fisheries and health)
  • Business and Industry (research, development, biotechnology marketing, consulting and health care)
  • Education (universities, museums, community colleges, public/private schools)

Career Opportunities

Many graduates with BMSc degrees go on to pursue further education in graduate studies (MSc and/or PhD) or professional schools such as:

  • Dentistry
  • Medicine
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Pharmacy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Optometry

Other career opportunities include:

  • Law (bioethics, patent development)
  • Business (biotechnology marketing, research and development, quality control)
  • Industry (pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, biosafety regulation and enforcement)
  • Teaching (elementary, secondary, post-secondary)

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the BHSc program have established successful careers in a variety of health-related field, including:

  • Physical, Occupational, Massage, Radiation, & Respiratory Therapy
  • Community Public Health
  • Public Sector Administration and Policy Development
  • Medicine/Dentistry
  • Biomedical Ethics
  • Business and Industry (wellness and rehabilitation, pharmaceuticals)
  • Non-profit (Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society)
  • Education and Health Care Law
  • Graduate Studies (Health Administration, International Health Policy, Epidemiology, Clinical Anatomy, Global Health